Loom picker

ABSTRACT

A loom picker which has a body of resilient elastomeric material with a shuttle-contacting insert of a wear-resistant material which is harder than the body. The inner end of the insert has an outwardly tapered configuration and is mounted in a cavity with a constant cross section so that the tapered end forces the material surrounding the cavity outward and creates a lock between the members. The cross section of the insert and cavity may have any of several conventional geometric shapes to prevent rotation of the insert in the cavity.

United States Patent Jacob I I [541 LOOM PI'CKER,

72 Inventor: RichardJ. Jacob, Dayton, Ohio [73] Assignee: Dayco Corporation, Dayton, Ohio 22 Filed: Apr-i116, 1971 211 Appl.No.: 134,561

[52] u.s.c1 .139/159 51 Int. 01. ..D03d 49/36 58 Field ofSearch ..139/159, 160

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,507,304 4/1970 Haag .....139/159 3,229,726 l/196 6 Murray 139/159 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 132,281 1/1929 Switzerland ..l39/l60 215,918 3/1942 Switzerland ..l39/l59 474,593 8/1969 Switzerland ..l39/l59 1151 3,698,443 145.1 Oct. 17,1972

1,127,227 8/1956 France 139/160 OTHER PUBLICATIONS 1,814,502, June 1970, German application, Kenk.

Primary Examiner-James Kee Chi Attorney-Reuben Wolk [57] ABSTRACT A loom picker which has a body of resilient 'elastomeric material with a shuttle-contacting insert of a wearresistant material which is 'harder than the body. The inner end of the insert has an outwardly tapered configuration andis mounted in a cavity with a constant cross section so that the tapered end forces the material surrounding the cavity outward and creates a lock between the members. The cross section of the insert and cavity may have any of several conventional geometric shapes to prevent rotation of the insert in the cavity. i

8 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEDucI 1 7 m2 SHEET 1 BF 2 INVENTOR RICHARD J. JA'COB A TTOR/VE Y PATENTEDnm 17 I972 INVENTOR RICHARD J. JACOB M Moi/L;

Arrow/v5) LOOM PICKER This invention refers to loom pickers which are used for driving shuttles across a loom during a weaving operation. In the art of weavingthe weft threads are laid transversely of the warp threads by the use of a shuttle which is struck by the picker to drive it back and forth. The high speed of looms creates a high impact on the picker which causes wear, thus necessitating frequent replacement of the picker. r

Rather than replace the entire picker, his highly desirable to replace only the portion of the picker which contacts the shuttle. By providing a simple method of installing and removing the insert which contacts the shuttle, a picker of increased life and lower cost will result. In order to create the proper resilience throughout the body and the high wear of the insert, it is feasible to utilize a picker with a body formed of a resilient elastomeric material and an insert which is formed of somewhat harder material which is highly wear resistant. Such an arrangement has been suggested, for example, in US. Pat. Nos. 3,229,726 and 3,507,334. In addition to improving the problem of wear, a picker of this typealso minimizesthe noise which is created by the impact between the shuttle and the picker.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention a novel picker has been developed which combines a resilient body, such as urethane, and a removable wearresistant shuttlecontacting insert, harder than the body, preferably made of high molecular weight polyethylene. Simplified installation and removal of the insert is accomplished by providing a tapered boss on the inner end of the insert which fits into a cavity in the face of the body so that the insert may be easily installed and removed from the body. When the insert, therefore, has become worn because of repeated impacts, it is a simple matter to remove this insert and install a new one. The novel concept resides in the relationship between the boss and the cavity; the tapered configuration of the boss creates a tight lock within the cavity. Inasmuch as the insert is harder than the body, the boss of the insert retains its tapered shape and tends to force the cavity outward into a matching configuration. Rotation of the insert is prevented by providing the boss and the cavity with a geometric cross section, such as a square, a triangle, a rectangle, a hexagon, an octagon, or similar geometric configurations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a novel picker mounted on a picker stick.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a picker taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, illustrating the insert assembled in the body.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, illustrating the in-. sert disassembled from the body.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating a modified form of insert.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2, illustrating the cross-sectional configuration of the insert and cavity.

absorption. A preferred material is'urethane, which.

2 FIGS. 6-10 are cross-sectional views similarto FIG.

5, illustrating alternative cross-sectional configurations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT designated by reference numeral 113 and has a shuttlecontacting insert 15 which is located within the cavity 18 of the body. A conical recess 16 in theface of the insert contacts the shuttle .during motion and helps .to seat the shuttlewithin the insert. v

The body 13. is ,made of an elastomeric material which is resilient in order to provide long life and shock may be cast or injection molded. The cavity 18. has a constant cross section as better shown in FIG. 3, and extends inwardly from the front edge of the body but terminates short of the picker stick opening. The cross section of the body may have any of several geometric shapes, such as square, triangular, rectangular, hexagonal, or octagonal, as best shown in FIGS. 5-10.

The insert 15 has a shuttle-contacting face and further has a boss 17 which has a tapered configuration in which the inner end, designated by reference numeral 19, is greater in cross section than the outer end. The insert is made of a high wear-resistant material such as high molecular weight polyethylene which is harder than the material of the bodyand which thus withstands the impact of the picker for long periods of time. The cross section of the boss 17 may also have any of the configurations shown in FIGS. 5-10 which thus mate with the configuration of the cavity in order to prevent rotation of the insert within the cavity.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cavity 18 has a constant cross section throughout its depth before the insert 15 is installed. However, when this insert is forced into place as shown in FIG. 2, the greater hardness of the boss 17 tends to deform the material surrounding the cavity in order to accommodate the tapered shape of the boss. Installation and removal of the insert is a comparatively simple matter; it is thus possible to replace the insert when it has become unduly worn.

FIG. 4 illustrates a modified form of the invention in which an insert 20 having a conical recess 21 is formed in a manner similar to the boss 17. This is also tapered outwardly to a maximum diameter at 22. The front face of the insert in this instance will be flush with the front face of the body.

FIG. 5 illustrates one cross-sectional configuration of the boss 17 as well as the ultimate configuration of the cavity 18 when the insert is placed into the cavity. As can be seen, this cross section is square.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment in which the cross section of the boss 27 is triangular. The FIG. 7 modification utilizes a boss in the form of a vertical rectangle 37; while FIG. 8 has a similar boss with a horizontal rectangular cross section. The boss 57 of FIG. 9 is hexagonal and the boss 67 of FIG. 10 is octagonal. It should be understood that other geometric shapes are contemplated, the principal requirement involving the necessity for locking the insert into the cavity to avoid rotation.

lclaim: l. A loom picker comprising a body of resilient elastomeric material having a picker stick opening passing through the upper and lower surfaces thereof, a

cavity in one end of said body terminating short of said opening, and an insert of wear-resistant material comprising an outer shuttle-contacting portion and an inner portion capable of mounting within said cavity, said inner portion having a tapered configuration with the inner end being greater in cross section than the outer end, said cavity having a constant cross section throughout its depth prior to mounting said insert therein, said cavity and said inner portion of the insert having a mating cross-sectional configuration to prevent rotation of said insert within said cavity.

2. The picker of claim 1 in which said insert is made of a harder material than said body.

3. The picker of claim 1 in which said body is made of urethane elastomer and said insert is'made of high molecular. weight polyethylene.

4. The picker of claim 1 in which said cross-sectional configuration is square.

5. The pickerof claim 1 in which said crosssectional configuration is triangular.

6. The picker of claim 1 in which said cross-sectional configuration is rectangular. I

7. The picker of claim 1 in which said cross-sectional configuration is hexagonal.

8. The picker of claim 1 in which said cross-sectional configuration is octagonal- 

1. A loom picker comprising a body of resilient elastomeric material having a picker stick opening passing through the upper and lower surfaces thereof, a cavity in one end of said body terminating short of said opening, and an insert of wearresistant material comprising an outer shuttle-contacting portion and an inner portion capable of mounting within said cavity, said inner portion having a tapered configuration with the inner end being greater in cross section than the outer end, said cavity having a constant cross section throughOut its depth prior to mounting said insert therein, said cavity and said inner portion of the insert having a mating cross-sectional configuration to prevent rotation of said insert within said cavity.
 2. The picker of claim 1 in which said insert is made of a harder material than said body.
 3. The picker of claim 1 in which said body is made of urethane elastomer and said insert is made of high molecular weight polyethylene.
 4. The picker of claim 1 in which said cross-sectional configuration is square.
 5. The picker of claim 1 in which said cross-sectional configuration is triangular.
 6. The picker of claim 1 in which said cross-sectional configuration is rectangular.
 7. The picker of claim 1 in which said cross-sectional configuration is hexagonal.
 8. The picker of claim 1 in which said cross-sectional configuration is octagonal. 